Hotel recommendation for Sydney is the Harbour Rocks Hotel. Stayed there on my last trip to Sydney and it was a great hotel in the Rocks a couple of blocks from the cruise terminal. Perfect location for food and shops before your cruise. Staff was incredible.
https://www.harbourrocks.com.au/
If you are looking for an interesting tour of the Rocks and Sydney, check out https://www.imfree.com.au/sydney/